Safe Environment

As a community of faith, we believe that our children are the most important gifts God has entrusted to us and that the prevention of child abuse begins with each person.

St. Paul the Apostle Parish and School, in coordination with the Catholic Diocese of Columbus, is committed to the protection and safety of all children. This commitment follows the fundamental mission of the Church to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, to give authentic witness to the moral teaching of the Scriptures and the tradition of the Church, and to uphold the human dignity of every person. Increased awareness and a willingness to take action are steps for every person to eradicate abuse in our society, in the community, in the neighborhood, and in the family.

At St. Paul the Apostle Parish and School “Best Practice” policies have been established to ensure the safety of our children in every parish and school activity. Our Safe Environment Program was designed for the protection of our children.

All of Volunteer Programs involving youth must follow the Diocese of Columbus Two-Deep Policy.  Parishes/schools/agencies must follow a strategy of “two-deep” ministry with minors, where at least two (2) adults who are in full compliance with Diocesan safe environment policies are present at all activities and situations.  Two-Deep Policy Link  

Letter from Diocese of Columbus concerning Safe Environment 

21-01-26-Safe-Environment-Letter.pdf

With that in mind, ALL VOLUNTEERS 18 years of age and older (Athletics, School, Scouts, Religious Education, Middle School and High School Youth Ministry, Knights of Columbus, and all other programs involving children) must complete the following procedures prior to the first day of volunteering: 

1.    Complete a Protecting God’s Children (PGC) awareness session offered throughout the Diocese of Columbus. This program helps raise the awareness of adult volunteers for the signs of child sexual abuse, the methods and means by which offenders commit abuse and steps one can use to prevent child sexual abuse.

2.    Undergo a Civilian Criminal Background/Fingerprint check (BCI&I) and if needed, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (see instructions for completing a fingerprinting background check below).

3.    Complete a Volunteer Application Form and read and sign a Volunteer Code of Conduct.

Details on the volunteer process are outlined below. For questions on this process, please email or call Bob McGee, Safe Environment Coordinator

Bob McGee | 614.882.2710 EXT. 100. | bmcgee@stpaulk-8.org

St. Paul the Apostle Parish and School

Bob McGee, Safe Environment Coordinator

614-882-2710 EXT 100

bmcgee@stpaulk-8.org

Diocese of Columbus Safe Environment Staff 

Regina Quinn, Director of Safe Environment Office

614-241-2568 EXT 1543

rquinn@columbuscatholic.org

St. Paul the Apostle Parish and School

Bob McGee, Safe Environment Coordinator

614-882-2710 EXT 100

bmcgee@stpaulk-8.org

Sexual abuse by a priest, deacon, or a staff member or volunteer in the Diocese of Columbus should be reported to Laura J. Lewis, M.A., L.P.C.C.-S, the Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator, 614-224-2251, 866-448-0217, or email Laura J. Lewis at LLewis@columbuscatholic.org. If you are the victim of sexual abuse (or any other crime), please contact local law enforcement immediately.

Reporting Abuse by a Bishop

The Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service has been established to receive reports of sexual abuse and related misconduct by bishops, and to relay those reports to proper Church authorities for investigation. Where a report includes a crime, such as the sexual abuse of a minor, it will also be reported to civil authorities.  Otherwise, reports will be kept confidential.
Call (800) 276-1562

Go to the ReportBishopAbuse.org website 

For individuals wanting to learn more about the prevention of child sexual abuse, please refer to www.virtus.org and sign up for their training bulletins and/or view their continuing education articles.

Reporting a Misconduct concern about a St. Paul Parish and School Employee, Volunteer, or Coach.

1.    All parish, school, and diocesan employees, regardless of their level of contact with children.

2.    All clergy and applicants to clerical formation who serve in the Diocese.

3.    All volunteers in the school, all coaches, all boy scout and cub scout volunteers, volunteers working in a school program or volunteers working in ministry for children and youth, regardless of their level of contact with children.

4.    Volunteers for other parish programs or ministries who have been delegated care, custody, or control of children.

How to set up my Fingerprinting

A Fingerprinting appointment can be scheduled by contacting the St. Paul School Office at 614.882.2710 or Bob McGee, Safe Environment Coordinator at 614.882.2710 ext. 100, or by email at: bmcgee@stpaulk-8.org.

You must provide a valid ID such as driver’s license, Passport, or State ID at the time of fingerprinting.

Once you prints are scanned, they will be sent the BCI, who will process the prints and send a report to the Diocese of Columbus, Safe Environment Office. The Diocese of Columbus will then notify St. Paul of the results of the background report. Background reports process time can range from seven (7) days to thirty (30) days.

Background Reports

The Diocesan of Columbus, Safe Environment Program, is the central repository of ALL background checks, for both state (BCI&I) and Federal (FBI) report.  Therefore, all background check reports must be sent directly to the Diocesan of Columbus Safe Environment Program office. ALL background reports must come directly from the the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI&I)  to the Diocesan Safe Environment Program. We will no longer be legally permitted to accept background reports, or copies of reports, from  parishes, schools, agencies, or individuals.

Record Keeping

The Diocese receives and retains the background check results (both BCI&I and FBI) and Protecting God’s Children class attendance verification. This information is then made available to the individual parishes. Please note that criminal background reports are treated confidentially by both the Diocese and our parish.

Individuals with no break in volunteer service and transferring between diocesan parishes can request that their information is transferred to St. Paul the Apostle.

Protecting God’s Children Class

Who is required to take the class?

The following adults are required to attend a Protecting God’s Children class:

• All parish, school and diocesan employees, regardless of their level of contact with children.
• All clergy and applicants to clerical formation who serve in the Diocese.
• All volunteers in the school, all coaches, all boy scout and cub scout volunteers, volunteers working in a  school program or  volunteers working in ministry for children and youth, regardless of their level of contact with children.
• Volunteers for other parish programs or ministries who have been delegated care, custody or control of children.

PGC Classes Currently Scheduled in the Diocese of Columbus

How to Register for a Protecting God’s Children (PGC) Awareness Session

Registration must be completed online at www.virtus.org. Select “First Time Registrant” on the green bar, left side of screen. Select View List of Session. At the drop down menu, select Columbus, OH (Diocese) either Register and create your account or  click on View a List of Session to View a listing of current class offerings, times, and locations.  For further instructions on registering for a class, How to Register for PGC

How to Post Register for a Protecting God’s Children Class

If you attended a Protecting God’s Children Class, but did not Register/Create a VIRTUS account you will need to do so. Your VIRTUS account will maintain a copy of you Protecting God’s Children Completion Certificate as well as the date(s) of your background reports.  When you go to volunteer, the Safe Environment Coordinator will go to your VIRTUS account to verify that you have completed your PGC class and that you have a background report.  Click here for instructions on how to post register for a PGC class.

All adults who would like to volunteer must fill out both a Volunteer Application and read and sign St. Paul’s Volunteer Code of Conduct.

Please fill out and submit this application form to serve as a volunteer. If you prefer, you can fill out a PDF and email it to Bob McGee or drop it off at the parish or school office.

Volunteer Application Form 

Code of Conduct

In addition, all Volunteers must read and sign and date the Volunteer Code of Conduct.  The code of conduct describes how are volunteers are to conduct themselves in the course of their service.  Please fill out the form and email a copy of the form to Bob McGee at bmcgee@stpaulk-8.org. You could also drop the form off at the parish or school offices and request the form be placed in Bob McGee’s mailbox.

Volunteer Code of Conduct

Coaches Code of Conduct

Catechist Code of Conduct

1. Coaching Certification:  All coaches must have completed Protecting God’s Children program and have an approved background check. In addition, coaches must comply with all requirements of the Diocesan Recreation Program(DRA), St. Paul’s Athletic Association, Safe Sport Act and OHSAA as required.   Link to DRA policies:

2. Two Deep Strategy :(policy 200.30) – There must be at least two PGC certified coaches, per team, present for each practice.  No practice/game can be held if there is only one coach per a team.  If a coach leaves early and one coach is left, the practice/game must end.  Link to Two-Deep Policy

3. Communication with minor: (policy 400.11, 400.12) – The Preferred Policy of communication is through the Parents/Guardians of the players. A coach may not initiate a one-to-one private conversation with a minor through phone, text, email, social media, etc.  All interactions with minors must be a two (2) deep strategy. If a minor initiates contact the coach must move the conversation to a public forum and the conversation must be open public, and transparent.  Copy conversations of this type and send to Coordinator of Youth Ministry, Athletic Director, and or Safe Environment Coordinator. Best practice – calls, text, and email parents with conversations.   Coaches may not accept “friend requests “or “follows”, or post “likes”, or other media   with minors related to personal social media platforms or apps. Coaches should not post any type of pictures or videos of your players on your personal social media accounts. Link to Communication Policy

4. Transportation:  (policy 400.30, 400.31, form 400.33) Preferred Policy is not to have coaches transport players to games and to practices. All Coaches, who are transporting players, (who are not your children) must be in full compliance with Diocesan Policy. Link to Driver Policy.  Driver must follow Two-deep policy, be at least 25 years of age, PGC compliant, has submitted to St. Paul School a driver form with driver license information and attached copy of proper insurance coverage.  See Attached Form.    In addition, all drivers must sign off on the Diocese of Columbus Cell Phone Policy Form.  See Attached Form.

5. Social Media: (policy 400.13-400.15 Social Media account for a team(s). To create a social media account for an athletic team, you must have permission from Parish Coordinator of Youth Ministry, Athletic Director, Safe Environment Coordinator, and the Pastor. There must be at least two adult administrators and at least one of these should be the Parish Coordinator of Youth Ministry, Athletic Director, or Safe Environment Coordinator. Sites are to be public and transparent.  Parents and guardians must be made aware of the site and encourage to join.  All social media sites are to be review on a regular basis.

6. Identifiable information of minors: (policy 400.15) – You may not post pictures of your players, (other than your own child) on your personal social media sites. To post pictures or videos of your players on the Parish, School, or Teams website, the coach must have a signed consent form from the player’s parent or guardian to post picture, video, or information concerning a minor.

7. Parent/ Guardian Access to observe event: All practices and games are to be accessible to parents and guardians.

St. Paul the Apostle Volunteer Drivers

Thank you for your willingness to drive youth to various ministry activities. Please make sure you have met the requirements listed below to be compliant with Diocese of Columbus Safe Environment Policies.

To be a driver of youth you must be at least 25 years old and have completed Protecting God’s Children training, have a current BCI background check on file, and have a valid Ohio Driver’s License. 

In addition to the volunteer application and signed Code of Conduct mentioned above, the following paperwork must be on file at the parish office prior to driving youth:

1. Transportation Policy
2. Volunteer Driver Form
3. Cell Phone Policy signed
4. Copy of your driver’s license (As you renew your license, please submit a current copy to the parish office)
5. Copy of the declaration policy of your auto insurance policy which states your vehicle is insured for the minimum bodily injury and property damage coverage listed on the Volunteer Driver information form. Please note that policies all have a “policy period’ or “renewal date.” Current copies of your policy must always be on file at the parish. If, for example, you pay your premium annually and receive an annual declarations page, you would need to submit this paperwork to the parish office once a year. If you pay your premium quarterly, please submit it 4 times per year.

Forms may be returned to either the parish or to the attention of Bob McGee, Safe Environment Coordinator. Questions: Please email  bob at: bmcgee@stpaulk-8.org

Link to Diocese of Columbus Safe Environment Page

Link to Diocese of Columbus Recreation Policies

St. Paul Social Media Policy .pdf

Diocese of Columbus Safe Environment Manual

Personally Identifiable Information Release Forms 400.15.pdf

PermissionForm.pdf

PGC 5 Steps to Protect our Children

6000.1 Adult Chaperones for Activities with Minors.pdf

Adult Registration Permission Release and Indemnification Agreement.pdf

200-20 Reporting abuse and neglect.pdf

200-61 Youth protection – Youth Ministry Gatherings at Private Residences.pdf

GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR COMMUNICATIONS IN YOUTH MINISTRY 400s REVISED 2018 8.21.19.pdf